Insulin Dosage Regimen Optimization via Glucose Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for optimizing and controlling patient drug dosage regimens, particularly for diabetes management, are time-consuming and prone to errors, as they rely on manual calculations and self-titration, which can lead to uncertainty among healthcare providers and patients regarding adherence to recommended insulin therapy.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a blood glucose meter, detection means for patient-actuated insulin administration, and a processor to analyze blood glucose data and adherence information, providing personalized dosage recommendations to maintain blood glucose levels within a defined range, while also accounting for proper use of the drug delivery device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual calculations and self-titration are used for insulin dosage adjustment, then patients can be empowered to manage their treatment, but the process becomes time-consuming and prone to errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient empowermentVSAvoiddosage calculation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables patients to self-manage their insulin therapy by providing them with access to personalized dosage recommendations through the blood glucose meter. Patients can view their blood glucose history, receive automated dosage suggestions, and make informed decisions about their treatment without requiring constant provider intervention, thus maintaining empowerment while improving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors blood glucose levels and provides feedback to patients in the form of personalized dosage recommendations. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows patients to adjust their insulin dosage based on real-time data, improving both the reliability of dosage calculations and the patient's ability to manage their condition effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If automated algorithms generate dosing recommendations, then calculation accuracy improves, but healthcare providers remain uncertain about the recommendations and patient adherence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosage recommendation accuracyVSAvoidadherence to recommendations
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback to healthcare providers about patient adherence by tracking whether patients follow the recommended dosage adjustments. This feedback loop allows providers to review actual patient behavior versus recommended actions, enabling them to intervene when necessary and improve overall adherence to the treatment regimen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The blood glucose meter and associated system act as an intermediary between patients and healthcare providers. It automatically generates accurate dosage recommendations based on blood glucose data, communicates these recommendations to patients, and tracks adherence, thereby bridging the gap between provider expertise and patient action without requiring constant direct involvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If comprehensive monitoring and data analysis are implemented, then patient management quality improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient management qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blood glucose meter is designed with multi-functionality, serving not only as a blood glucose testing device but also as a data storage system, recommendation engine, adherence tracker, and communication tool between patients and providers. By consolidating these functions into a single device, the system improves patient management quality without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically performs comprehensive monitoring and data analysis without requiring manual intervention from healthcare providers. It self-manages data collection, generates recommendations, tracks adherence, and communicates with providers, thereby maintaining high patient management quality while minimizing the operational burden and perceived complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3865053B1System for optimizing a patient's drug dosage regimen over time
Publication Date: 2024.02.07 NOVO NORDISK AS
  • EP3865053B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3865053B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3865053B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A system for optimizing a patient's basal insulin dosage regimen over time, adapted to determine from blood glucose values whether and by how much to vary a patient's present recommended amount of the insulin-containing drug in order to maintain the patient's future blood glucose level measurements within a predefined range, and wherein a given blood glucose value is disregarded if no patient-actuated operation being indicative of the administration of a dose of an insulin containing drug has been detected in a pre-defined amount of time prior to the determination of the given blood glucose value.